The Times - UK (2022-02-23)

20 Wednesday February 23 2022 | the times

News

Defiant residents of a world heritage

site at risk of being submerged by flood-

ing refused to leave their homes yester-

day amid warnings of a risk to life.

There were fears that the River Sev-

ern would overwhelm the barriers in

Ironbridge, Shropshire, as officials were

forced to deploy them for the third time

in as many years.

Council staff worked late into the

night on Monday to reach properties in

the village, which is home to the world’s

oldest cast iron bridge, and some 20

households were evacuated. Defences

were deployed on the village side of the

river, but homes had already flooded on

the other side.

Major incidents were declared in

Worcestershire and Shropshire as

water levels continued to rise. The

Environment Agency urged communi-

ties in parts of the West Midlands and

the north of England to be prepared for

significant flooding until today.

It issued severe flood warnings,

meaning a “danger to life” for Iron-

bridge and downstream in Bewdley,

where the temporary flood defences

faced being overtopped by the river.

Among those whose homes had

Debbie Stokes, who lives in nearby

Jackfield, said: “I’ve had to climb

through people’s gardens with all my

bags. We’re going to have to look at get-

ting out in the future.” Rae Evans was

evacuated from her home by the river

for the fourth time in three years.

“When I bought the house [I was told] it

might flood once in 70 years,” she said.

Shaun Davies, leader of Telford and

Wrekin council, called for the govern-

ment to provide a “permanent solu-

Villagers refuse

to flee homes as

floodwaters rise

flooded was Peter Andrews, 52, an ice

cream man, who has refused to aban-

don his riverside property for the past

24 years despite warnings to evacuate.

“We were told we could go into a

hotel and be fed,” he said. “But I stayed

put. It’s happened four times in the last

three years ... I received a £5,000 flood

defences grant from the government

after the last time. That’s really helped.”

Asked about his ice cream van, he

added: “I managed to get it to a car park

at the top. Otherwise it would be half-

way to Bristol [in the river] by now.”

Other residents staying put included

Graham Hickman, who has lived in a

flat adjacent to the village side of the

Iron Bridge since 1950. He said: “It is

quite elevated here so I don’t think it

will be a problem but I do remember the

floods of 1960 where there were bikes

and sheep flowing past ... I don’t think

it is going to be any worse than then.”

Betty Maiden, 90, who lives on the

other side of the river, where water was

lapping up the bank, said: “I have lived

in this cottage since I was five, we have

seen all this before — it’s only a bit of

water. I wouldn’t feel comfortable mov-

ing out even for a couple of days.”

Residents took refuge in the Tontine

Hotel in the centre of Ironbridge.

Neil Johnston

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